[NTLK] Call for suggestions for Waba games

From: Sean Luke (sean_at_cs.gmu.edu)
Date: Sun Sep 30 2001 - 14:39:07 EDT


I'm thinking about taking some more Java applets and converting them into
Waba puzzles/games for the Newton. I'd like to solicit some suggestions
from the community. Before you get all excited about suggesting Quake
for the Newton, here are the constraints you'll need to match your game or
puzzle against:

0. If it's real-time (arcade-style):
        A. It shouldn't use much in the way of trigonometric functions,
           which are somewhat slow. If you see lots of rotation or 3D
           stuff etc., it'll be pokey.
        B. It should be heavy on lines and squares and light on bitmaps.
        C. Consider whether or not the game would work well with a pen interface.

1. If it's a thinking game (like Go or Chess):
        A. PCs and Macs have high-performance, just-in-time Java
              bytecode compilation systems. Waba for the Newton is a Java
           bytecode *interpreter* (like JDK 1.0). Further the MP2K
           is typically 10 times slower than a typical PC, despite
           having that nice 162 MHz StrongARM inside. Newtons were
           designed for low power, not high speed. Thus, generally
           speaking, your MP2K may take 10-100 times the time to come
           up with a game move than a PC or Mac would. Play the game on
           your Mac and PC and consider whether it would really be
           playable on a Newton.

2. It needs to be open source and freely modifiable. GNU, BSD, or
arbitrary "do whatever you want with it" licenses are fine. It shouldn't
have restrictions on redistribution.

3. It needs to be very small.

4. It shouldn't rely on color or grayscale in order for the game to be
playable.

5. No sound.

6. If you can send me a specific URL to an applet page, including source,
it'd be helpful.

Sean

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